Airtel and the Republic of Congo took a significant step towards building the largest 3G network across Africa by unveiling a 3,75G platform in the country.The company, in a statement on Tuesday, said this was brought about by the successful application and issuance of a 3G licence by the Republic of Congo.It stated, The issuance of the licence is a significant move by the Congolese Government and a milestone in a region that is set to embrace first world mobile platforms. This is the first 3G licence issued in Central Africa and the second among the French-speaking African nations, after Senegal.It further stated that the 3G platform promised intense changes to how subscribers in the region experienced the web on Internet-enabled devices.Airtel stated, The improved technology will enhance multimedia functionality, high speed mobile broadband and internet access; allowing users to make video calls, watch live TV, send and receive emails and download music from the devices.It also stated that this was the latest global HSPSA plus technology with 21 mbps, also being rolled out in Europe and the USA.Airtel said it was the fastest 3G available and would be enormously beneficial for a variety of users, which included large companies, small or medium businesses and the youth.The Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Africa, Francophone, Mr. Tiemoko Coulibaly,said, 3G technology will give our customers the opportunity to interact with data in a different way.This is why Airtel doesnt see 3G as a product but a platform that enables the community expand its social and commercial horizons, alongside the rest of the world.According to Coulibaly, Airtel will be rolling out its data network across all its markets with the objective of building the largest 3G network across the continent, and will continue to provide useful and innovative services to make use of the new technology.The Managing Director, Airtel in Congo, Beston Tshinsele, stated, We are grateful to the Republic of Congo, represented by The Honourable Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and New Technology of Communications, Mr. Thierry Moungalla, for issuing the licence through the countrys regulator, Agence de Rgulation des Postes et des Communications Electroniques and sharing our vision of enhancing the countrys telecommunication platform.This has the capability to enhance social, cultural and commercial participation amongst the citizens of Congo and also the global community.He added, Our 3G platform will allow subscribers to combine the enormous potential of the Internet with the convenience of cellular phones and other devices. It will liberate the potential of our youth through enabling fast access to the Internet for learning, sharing, social networking, creating and accessing content like music. For the small and medium business, it will enable the entrepreneur to embrace a highly mobile way of working with high speed access to email and internet and it will allow large companies to increase productivity through vastly enhanced mobile internet speeds and access to record and allow for communication via video calls on handsets.Africa is an emerging market and subscribers all over the continent are increasingly demanding better network quality and superior services. We have partnered with Bharti Airtel to deliver the right infrastructure and solutions to help them meet these demands. Head of Africa Region, Nokia Siemens Networks, Dimitri Diliani,said.With our strong products and services portfolio, we will partner and support Bharti Airtel to deliver HSPA+ technology, which will enable their customers in the Republic of Congo to enjoy high-speed mobile Internet services. This technology will enable Bharti Airtel deliver a unique experience to their customers.There are currently about 400 million mobile subscribers in Africa, according to data from McKinsey & Company. Telecommunications is one of the continents fastest growing industries with a rapidly expanding cellular phone market that now includes Internet access, mobile banking and mobile commerce.
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